Since most sales of a new kit are done in the first year, or so I'm told, I thought it would be useful to point out the accuracy issues that are readily visible in the new 1/48th Mk XII now, rather than a few years down the line...

The problems are fairly coarse and obvious, and are not of an easily fixable nature. This kit is stricktly for the "it looks like" modelers.

First, the nose is far too curved between the valve cover fairings, which probably results in a fuselage that's way too deep overall, if the very deep tail is any guide...:

http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww195/jonathanmock/SpitfireXII/ace0f16d.jpg

http://www.spitfireperformance.com/41sqdn-spit12.jpg

You can see here this nose curvature is quite visible from most angles:

http://drewemanton.com/models/drewe/spit12build/b1217.jpg

http://www.spitfire.dk/MkXII_4.jpg

I also think the canopy's windshield sides are too splayed, but I would need better photos to confirm how serious this issue is (as I am definitely not going to buy it to confirm it).

A more objective issue is shared by the other (overrated) late Spitfires of Airfix: The Gryphon engine valve cover fairings ARE NOT PARALELL IN PLAN VIEW...

http://drewemanton.com/models/drewe/spit12build/b1214.jpg

This is likely in part due to the excessive curvature of the nose: And you can see as a result the much narrower space at the front between the valve covers compared to the real thing...:

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/gaston11_2008/SpitMB8821.jpg

You can see here Yoyuso discussing the non-paralell Airfix Gryphon valve cover fairings on their previous Spitfires, and his generally sisiphyan efforts to cobble a decent 1/48th Spitfire together (I think this guy also has a time-warping device)...:

http://www.geocities.jp/yoyuso/spit14/spit14e.html

Although, until the Zvezda Me-109F appeared last year, the fate of mid/late Me-109 builders was equally terrible in my opinion, it pales in comparison of what is still inflicted on Spitfire builders in 1/48th... 3 mm short Tamiyas, 4.5 mm short Hasegawas. Perhaps fixing the weird triangular spine on the ICMs and adapting Hasegawa clear parts is possible... It is becoming increasingly clear to me that 1/48th is seen by some manufacturers as the "anything goes" scale (the poster child of that being the Ki-48)... Just compare the treatment Tamiya gave the Mk IX in 1/32...

I had high expectation for this Airfix release, as I don't want to spend ten years building a 1/48th Spitfire... No luck, and every stunning new 1/32 release (like the upcoming B-25s) confirms the increasingly strong impression that I am just dwelling aimlessly in the wrong scale...

Please Airfix, this is "The Only True Scale", not the "Anything goes" scale...

Gaston

Some salient (to me) points:-
The kit has been matched, within 1mm, to Peter Cooke's drawings; this is a man who measured many late-Mark Spitfire XIV, XVIII, and Seafire 17 airframes. Which airframes have you measured?
Your throwaway "overrated" remark, about the Airfix 22/24 kits, ignores the fact that, over the years, no-one, but you, has managed to find fault with them. Again, which airframes did you measure, please?
You were removed from Britmodeller's membership, for using Jonathon Mock's photographs without permission; it hasn't inhibited you from doing it again.
Your research might be a little more credible, if you could get the name of the engine correct; it's GRIFFON. Look it up.
Edgar

Ohhh not here aswell!!

I urge all Aeroscalers to not post anything on this thread and maybe then he'll go away.

Howard

over 50% of your posted threads are about accuracy issues. please , post pictures of your work, and enjoy the forums, or send you research to the appropriate companies. or better yet, start your own.
I appreciate that kits have errors, but by the sounds of it, they never get it right?
eh


Lpj out

Gaston,

By chance are you related to a bloke called "Herbert Ackermann" who used to post on the 'Armorama' site? For those that also use 'Armorama' as well, no further elaboration is necessary!

Why are your plans (alone) correct and perhaps some pictures of your 'corrections' on BUILT MODELS may be in order to show us the way to go?

BTW - Late Spits used a GRIFFON Engine. So, if you cannot even get the name of the engine correct don't you think it compromises your credibility / expertise on these topics just a tad.

Lets all just BUILD models and not fall into the 'paralysis by analysis' mindset.

Gary

Gaston, I have politely asked you previously not to use my photos after you uploaded them to your Photobucket account in support of your claims to have detected "readily visible accuracy issues" that even some hardened Spitfire boffs who have plastic in hand (which you clearly don't), have failed to pick up.

Here's a tip - buy the kit and take your own photos if you truly do feel you have something worthwhile to say. Stop using mine.

And as others have pointed out - its GRIFFON. How about that for a readily visible accuracy issue?

I'm going to get this kit at some point and enjoy building the first Griffon engined Spitfire.

thanks
Mike

Here's a few of my WIPs:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1296962187

You can see why building some of those in 1/48th is not quick...

Gaston